I know the feeling of being in a situation where it seems like your world is about to end. I understand having these thoughts which tell you that nothing matters anymore, everything doesn’t make sense, and there’s no more reason to be here. I get the feeling of running through the same circle and nothing seems to change, no matter how hard you try.

I am familiar with living a life every day under the rock, while clouds rain on you. I know what it’s like to have a very bad day, bad week, bad month and no one gets it. No one understands how crushed you are on the inside, and how you’re barely hanging on. No one cares to know how hard it is for you to get out of bed.

It’s like everything in life is against you and nobody’s there to help you or even hear you out. It feels like you’re all alone and you’re just trying so hard to convince yourself that you’re going to be okay. I get the feeling because I’ve been there.

And here’s the most important thing I’ve learned after I’ve survived my darkest days: All pain is temporary.

You’re going to get through anything. You’re going to stop crying eventually and see reasons to smile again. You’re going to find hope on the time that you least expect it. You’re going to meet people who are going to make a difference in your life, and inspire you to live more.

It might be hard for you to believe this now, but life has a weird way of sorting itself out.

So please remember to hold on a little longer. Please remember to give everything a second chance. Please remember to be patient. And when you’re on your lowest, remember that you’re not alone.

You’re not the only one who’s experiencing a rough life. You’re not the only one who doesn’t get enough sleep at night. You’re not the only one who has so much worry and paranoia and regrets. You’re not the only one who has a broken heart.

And just like everyone else, you are strong enough to live for another day, to push through, to try again. You have a one brave soul that doesn’t stop fighting.

You’re going to endure the pain, laugh it out, until it’s gone. You’re going to allow yourself to cry when your feelings are hurting you, but you’re also going to set your limits, and finally wipe your tears. You’re going to embrace change. You’re going to do everything to be better. You’re going to learn so much about your bad days.

Life has ups and downs. You’re going to have moments when everything around you falls into place. But you’re also going to have moments when everything around you is breaking apart. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. Sometimes you get what you want and sometimes you don’t.

But always remember that somehow everyone goes through the same thing. Everyone has fears and secrets they’re afraid to tell. Everyone is trying to survive. Everyone has a broken heart to mend. Everyone wants to have a fresh start and move on.

This poetry collection by Bianca Sparacino is an assembly of words that celebrates the resilience of the human heart through stages of hurting, feeling, healing and loving.

“Be alone. Eat alone, take yourself on dates, sleep alone. In the midst of this you will learn about yourself. You will grow, you will figure out what inspires you, you will curate your own dreams, your own beliefs, your own stunning clarity, and when you do meet the person who makes your cells dance, you will be sure of it, because you are sure of yourself.”

★★★★★ “One of the best, if not the best, modern poetry collections you can read. Absolutely incredible. Her words are so wise, intricate and delicate that you feel them caressing your soul. I love this book, I love it so very much.” —Hayder